Saskatchewan.

• Author: Woods, Margaret "Meta"
• Position: Legislative Reports - Report

Premier Brad Wall introduced his first cabinet on November 21, 2007 at a ceremony at Government House. While none of the eighteen ministers had previous cabinet experience, fourteen had served on the opposition benches. All but one of the original founding members of the Saskatchewan Party who retained their seats in the Assembly received appointments. The last original member, Don Toth, was later elected Speaker of the Assembly. Premier Wall provided each minister with a letter outlining the expectations and priorities expected of each. These mandate letters were then posted on the government website.

Ken Krawetz was named Deputy Premier and Minister of Education. Rod Gantefoer will lead both the Finance ministry and the government in the Chamber as House Leader. The Health portfolio will be headed by Don McMorris while Bill Boyd takes on Energy and Resources and lntergovernmental Affairs. June Draude will oversee First Nations and Metis Relations and Northern Affairs. Bob Bjornerud, Don Morgan and Dan D'Autremont will lead the Agriculture, Justice and Government Services ministries.

Premier Wall also announced the appointments of seven legislative secretaries, each of whom was assigned responsibility for specific tasks. Randy Weekes will serve as whip while Doreen Eagles was chosen as caucus chair.

Appointments were also announced on the opposition side of the House. The shadow cabinet announced by Leader of the Opposition Lorne Calvert included sixteen former ministers and three members entering the Assembly for the first time. Among the assignments were Pat Atkinson as Deputy Leader of the Opposition and critic for Agriculture and Immigration. Len Taylor will serve as Opposition House Leader, Andy Iwanchuck as whip and Frank Quennell as caucus chair.

New Presiding Officers

Following tradition, the 26th Legislature opened with the selection of new presiding officers. Don Toth was elected by acclamation as the Assembly's 23rd Speaker. Mr. Toth has represented the Moosomin constituency since 1986, first as a Progressive Conservative and then as one of the founding members of the Saskatchewan Party. The role of presiding officer is not entirely new to Speaker Toth as he served as Deputy Chair of Committees from 1989 until 1990. Over the course of his political career, he has served as the Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Health and as chair of the Standing Committees on Crown Corporations and on Regulations. He has held many critic...